Winter on the farm can be lovely and unexpected. The sunsets are brilliant and even the cold mornings can bring surprises. This week, on Monday, it was -16ºF. The air was still and the smoke from our neighbor's chimney was settled low in the sky and seemed to hang over the trees like a spider web. I have never seen anything like it.

The hoop houses are buried in snow, but it is actually providing some extra insulation around the sides and blocking the harsh winds. The plants are frozen inside, but a little bit of sun for 3-4 hrs can raise the temperatures to over 50ºF. If the sun doesn't show it's face, the plants stay frozen and we have to wait to harvest.